PEORIA – After five years of trying, numerous qualifying bids, one on-the-mark heave and several minutes of nervousness, Cory Hill won the CEFCU Rainbow Shot competition at halftime of the Class 2A third-place game on Saturday night at Carver Arena.

An employee at Versa Print, Inc., in Spring Bay, Hill’s shot from the 3-point line on the opposite end of the court was the furthest made basket among 22 who qualified for the competition.

He won $250 for himself and $250 for Metamora high, from where he graduated in 2010.

“The fifth time I’ve done this and the first time I’ve won,” a beaming Hill said. “Last year I qualified and made a shot from halfcourt but someone ended up making one from longer.”

Contestants qualified for the competition by winning one of 22 qualifying rounds, held each hour throughout the weekend in the March Madness Experience.

“I’ve been here since Thursday trying to qualify and I finally won one (Saturday) morning,” Hill said. “The tough part is, if you make one all you can do is watch and see if someone else beats you.”

Among those also in the finals was Drew Mitchell from Mackinaw, a seven-time qualifier and the 2010 Rainbow champion.

“It’s a mindset,” Mitchell said. “I get into a zone.”

Morton freshman Rindy Uphoff also was among those who advanced to the finals.

“I start off shooting a regular shot with two hands,” Uphoff said. “When it gets back to halfcourt or further I have to adjust my technique and pretty much throw it with one hand.”

Competition host Tony Pisano said the Rainbow competition began a year or two after the state tournament came to Peoria, in 1996. Pisano also is a member of Peoria’s steering committee for IHSA events.

“We had the long-shot competition in the Experience and it was suggested that we bring those winners to the arena for a shoot-off,” Pisano said. “It’s become an exciting event and something the fans enjoy as part of coming to the tournament.”

During the six-minute competition, competitors take sequential hurried shots beginning at the free-throw line. Once a basket is made the distance moves back -- to the 3-point line, then to the near edge of the halfcourt circle, then to halfcourt, and so on.

Pisano said the longest made shot, several years ago, was from beneath the hoop at the opposite end of the court.

“It’s one last-second shot after another and the thrill and anticipation as the balls fly toward the hoop,” Pisano said. “You can’t buy that kind of excitement.”

Page 2 of 2 - Last year a contestant made a shot just after the horn that signaled the end of the competition.

“I said the shot was after the buzzer and it was no good, and the fans booed me,” Pisano said with a chuckle. “Fortunately, (Marty Hickman) with the IHSA stepped in and we gave away two prizes.”

Midwest Central junior Dallas Askins was unable to connect on any of his shots during the competition. He earned an invitation by winning the final qualifying round in the Experience.

“I just got here five minutes ago, jumped in line and won,” Askins said.

The Rainbow Shot competition will take place again next weekend during the Class 3A and 4A state finals.

Lonnie Schwindenhammer can be reached at 686-3214 or lschwindenhammer@pjstar.com.